Links to Class

“John Jackson ties the bow tie so perfectly that people ask him if itâ€™s a clip-on, but he claims itâ€™s â€œas easy as learning to tie your shoe.â€ Despite him being partial to the silk butterfly, heâ€™s even more passionate about regular ties, particularly teaching men that there is more to life than knotting a half windsor knot. After all, the devil is in the details.â€œMost guys have been taught how to tie one type of knot their whole life,â€ explains Jackson. â€œSometimes other knots might change a whole look.â€

By IGOR GURYASHKINStaff Writer

John Jackson loves trains. His home is a mecca of train memorabilia having spent 31 years working for the railways in Virginia. But before hitting the tracks, the Trinity High School alum worked part-time at Rodes, surrouned by suits, ties and every other type of masculine accoutrements. Now, retired from driving locomotives, Jackson is pursuing his other love â€“ worshiping at the altar of sartorial elegance.

At his store, Shirts, Ties N Links, in Westport Village, Jackson, who himself regularly sports a kaleidoscopic mix of colors and materials, is on a quest to bring color to Louisvillian mensâ€™ wardrobes â€“ that he claims are normally more sober and conservative than they need to be.

â€œAlways remember your clothes should never match,â€ explains Jackson, who co-owns the store with his friend Chuck Ellis. â€œThey should complement each other,â€ he continues.

â€œIf youâ€™ve got money in your pocket you can buy fashion, but you canâ€™t buy style,â€ Jackson says. â€œStyle is not something that everyone has, and those who have it didnâ€™t get it overnight.â€

Jackson hopes he can imbue some of his own style to customers looking to try something a little more adventurous or those who rely on spouses or girlfriends to shop for them in the past. And if a bright shirt is too much he has more nuanced options up his French cuffed sleeves.

â€œYou can have a very conservative suit, but when a guy throws on a colorful pair of socks, it completely changes their personality and how people see them.â€

One of Jacksonâ€™s pride and joys is the sock wall in his establishment which boasts over 140 different socks.Â Varying in shades and patterns for any taste, especially his own bright and festive tendencies, there is a pair for everyone.

With a store brimming with hand-made English silk ties, as well as pocket rounds and ties with bright European accents, Jackson is sure heâ€™ll be able to help men express themselves. Even if itâ€™s just a simple pair of socks.

â€œItâ€™s not about fashion it is about style,â€ he finishes.

Four in Hand

â€œThe best thing about the four-in-hand, or French knot as itâ€™s also known, is that itâ€™s not perfect. The Windsor knot and the half Windsor knot are symmetrical, perfect knots, but this one is not and thatâ€™s what I like about it. When dressing, everything does not have to be perfect. Every now and then you want things to look a little bit off kilter and the French knot gives you that.â€

Half Windsor

â€œThis is the knot that everyone ties because itâ€™s the first one that theyâ€™re usually taught. This is like a windsor knot, but itâ€™s just a little smaller. A full Windsor can sometimes be little bit too big, but with this one you can wear it with a standard collar which will also look nice with a wider collar as the knot is not as big and you get to see more of the tie.â€

Windsor

â€œThis knot means your knot is a lot bigger and itâ€™s very straight across the buttons. Most guys I know prefer to have a windsor knot because it looks perfect and symmetrical. But the biggest mistake is they tie it too far up rather than too far down, so there is not enough tie left when the knot is complete. Just remember â€“ you donâ€™t want your tie longer than one inch below your belt.â€

Photos by IGOR GURYASHKIN | The Voice-Tribune

About the Author

Igor Guryashkin is the staff writer at The Voice-Tribune. While not born nor raised in the Bluegrass State, he's proud to call Louisville home and tell the great stories of people right here on our doorstep. Aside from The Voice-Tribune, his work regularly appears on ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine as well as other national outlets.